When I look back at the SOPHIA 2025 weekend in Malta, the first thing that comes to mind is a feeling—a warm, collective, quietly transformative feeling. I arrived on the island with a suitcase full of clothes, a laptop, and a mind filled with questions about how we might invite children to think critically about the digital world. But when I left, I carried something far more valuable: a sense of belonging to a vibrant European community of people who care deeply about children’s thinking, ethical dialogue, and the future of education.
My name is Mohammad Reza Vaez Shahrestani, and my academic path has long been shaped by the intersection of philosophy, science, and children’s learning. I hold a PhD in Philosophy of Science, and for many years I have been working in Iran and Germany in the teaching and promotion of critical thinking, scientific thinking, and the Philosophy for Children (P4wC) program. Founding and Leading Yara: The Iranian Center for the Advancement of Philosophy for Children and Youth(ICAPCY) since 2017 has been one of my most meaningful commitments. In recent years, through my work in Germany and my involvement with international P4C networks, I have also begun developing a research project titled
Integrating AI Ethics into Philosophy for Children Program—a project focused on designing and teaching ethical concepts related to artificial intelligence through creative, dialogic, and developmentally sensitive approaches. Much of my work in this project explores how children can meaningfully encounter concepts such as privacy, autonomy, algorithmic bias, responsibility, and the ethics of technology within a genuine Community of Philosophical Inquiry.
This year, I had the honour of being the 2025 SOPHIA bursary winner, an opportunity that not only supported my attendance but also allowed me to share part of this project in a practical, hands-on workshop with a wide community of European facilitators.
My Workshop: Children, AI, and the Ethical Complexity of Privacy
My workshop began with a simple but crucial question:
What does “privacy” really mean—and when can it become a risk for children?
To bridge ethical concepts with children’s real experiences, I used a short narrative inspired by the world of Minecraft: “Liam’s Secret Base.” This simple story opened a powerful entry point into the inquiry. Children naturally begin to explore what privacy is, why it matters, and how it can be unintentionally revealed.
In the session, I demonstrated how such a story can grow into a Community of Inquiry—where children identify key concepts, distinguish between secrets, personal information, and sensitive data, and formulate open-ended philosophical questions such as:
“Should we always ask for permission before sharing someone’s information?”
“Who is responsible for our safety online?”
The final activity, a role-playing exercise called “The Safe-Sharing Scenario,” brought incredible energy into the room. Participants stepped into real digital dilemmas, identified potential risks, and collaboratively created their own Safe Sharing Checklist.
The feedback from participants was immensely encouraging. Many told me that the combination of story, community dialogue, and role-play offered a practical model they felt ready to implement in their own P4C sessions and classrooms. Hearing this was, for me, the most rewarding part of the workshop.
A Weekend Filled with Learning, Creativity, and Human Connection
SOPHIA 2025 was much more than a sequence of presentations—it was two full days enlivened by creativity, genuine dialogue, and the kind of learning that continues into every corner of the gathering. Conversations spilled out of the rooms—into coffee breaks, lunchtime queues, and even into the garden of the venue.
From the first morning, I felt the shared intention in the air: to listen, to learn, to question, and to support children’s thinking in more thoughtful ways. Within a short time, I had connected with facilitators, teachers, and researchers from Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Poland, the UK, and beyond. Despite coming from varied educational systems, our concerns—and our hopes—were remarkably aligned.
One of the most memorable moments for me happened outdoors during one of the workshops. Two facilitators from Belgium brought out several packs of clay and invited everyone to sculpt their own mental image of “artificial intelligence.” Suddenly, our small group turned into a creative studio: robots, abstract shapes, tiny machines, and impossible forms took shape in our hands. For me, that playful moment captured the essence of the gathering: philosophy as touch, play, creativity, and shared meaning.
Why You Should Apply for the SOPHIA 2026 Bursary
If you are considering applying for the 2026 bursary, let me say this simply: it is absolutely worth it.
This bursary gives you the chance to:
- spend time among people who believe in children’s thinking,
- discover new ideas and facilitation methods,
- expand your international professional network, and
- present your project in a warm, supportive, and intellectually rich environment.
When you join SOPHIA, you’re not just attending an educational event—you’re joining a community.
Final Thanks
I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Emma, Grace, Lukasz, Sylwia, and all the organisers whose dedication and generosity made this experience so meaningful.
Reza
